Currently it has been successfully driven on the streets of more than 80 countries around the world. Benelli was founded by Teresa Benelli along his six sons named Giuseppe, Giovanni, Francesco, Filippo, Domenico, Antonio “Tonino Benelli in Pesaro, Italy in 1911. The company initially started their journey as a workshop and motor garage. They had also prepared spare parts for cars and motorcycle.
In 1919 Benelli had made made first engine as a two stroke 75cc applied to a bicycle frame. Unfortunately it did not produce satisfying results. In December 1921 first Benelli motorcycle appeared. Two stroke lightweight bike presented in two models, Touring and Sport (125cc). In 1923 the two models of 1921 are followed by a 147 cc version. In 1926 Giuseppe Benelli designed a new motorcycle, a 175cc 4-stroke engine bike. Tonino took part in competitions and triumphed four championship titles in 1927, 1928, 1930 and 1931, on the Benelli 175cc. The production increase and sales success as the 175cc was produced in different models until 1934. In 1932 the Benelli brothers bought the pavilions of the sawmill Molaroni in ‘viale Principe Amedeo’, which is now ‘viale Mameli’. In 1934 Benelli introduced two new racing bikes: a 250 twin cam and a 500. In 1940 Benelli launched a 500cc with side valves and a fantastic racing bike. Before the Second World War the company of Pesaro was at the height of success with 800 employees worked in the factory. In 1932, Antonio Benelli crashed during a race. Antonio's life ended in a road accident on September 27, 1937. During the Second World War the Benelli factory was completely destroyed. The outbreak of the war forced the company to produce only military motorcycles. In 1949, Giuseppe Benelli and his brothers had a falling out. Giuseppe left the Company and formed one of his own. It went by the name Motobi. Motobi merged with Benelli after the disagreement was resolved. Benelli and Motobi employed 550 workers in 1962 and they were producing 300 bikes daily. In 1980, Pesaro-based manufacturer, Giancarlo Selci, offered Benelli financial backing. The revival of the Company didn't work out at this time. In 1995, the time was right and Benelli was revived with Andrea Merloni at the helm. The Tornado 900 Tre super sport bike was launched in 2002. In 2005, the TNT 1130 Roadster made its appearance.
